Sept. 10, 2005
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
JOE SUNNEN, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
The statistics St. Cloud State University (Minn.) have been putting up so far this season are enough to make a video gamer jealous.
The Western Washington University football team would like to turn off the power button.
"They are a strong football team there's no question about it," WWU coach Rob Smith said. "They have some real weapons."
There's nothing the Vikings (1-1) would like more than to knock off one of the nation's better NCAA Division II team's in their home opener.
"This is our home opener and it has to be a win," safety Steve Davis said.
Depending on what poll you're looking at, the Huskies (2-0) come into today's game against the Vikings at Civic Stadium ranked as high as No. 13 in the nation.
After outscoring its first two opponents 88-7 and rolling to nearly 550 yards of total offense per game, that ranking might seem a little low.
"They're a team that doesn't have any weakness," Smith said. "We haven't been able to find any. They're easily one the best teams we'll see this year. I think they're ranked too low. This is a top 10 team football team."
The Huskies are led by senior running back Matt Birkel - a 5-foot-9, 230-pound wrecking ball with speed - and senior quarterback Daniel Kaczor.
Birkel has 333 yards rushing this season and five touchdowns on only 37 carries. Kaczor is 29-for-39 for 441 yards and hasn't had to play a full game yet.
"If you start to concentrate on stopping Birkel, they'll just start passing the ball around," Smith said. "This is going to be quite a challenge for us."
Defensively the Huskies are just as balanced. St. Cloud State has held its opponents to less than 100 yards rushing per game this year and less than 80 yards passing.
The Vikings lost 44-29 to the Huskies last season on the road and 44-27 in Bellingham in 2003.
"I think we have a chance against this team if we can come out strong," Davis said.
Notes: The Vikings will be without several players for today's game due to injuries. Starting running back Duncan Sherrard will be out at least three weeks after undergoing surgery on his knee for a torn meniscus. Senior Jake Carlyle will start in his place and split time with and redshirt freshman Jordyn Jackson. ... This is the last time WWU will meet St. Cloud State in a non-conference game. The Vikings will be joining the North Central Conference next season.
